The Hindu : Karnataka News : Government responsible for fund crunch: Siddaramaiah

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Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Government responsible for fund crunch: Siddaramaiah

Correspondent

‘Government insensitive to Opposition’s suggestions, observations’

‘State Government has failed to spend
Rs. 9,000 crore of the expected expenditure’
Opposition Leader has right to hold review meetings: Siddaramaiah

CHIKMAGALUR: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah has accused the State Government of mismanaging the State’s finances, resulting in shortage of funds and delay in implementation of development works.

Speaking to press-persons here on Monday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who had always maintained that there was no dearth of funds, had begun to change his tune.

Fall in growth

Attributing the financial crisis to the failure of the Government to mobilise revenue, he said that revenue growth, which was 25 per cent in 2004-05, had now been reduced to about five per cent.

Quoting the Auditor-General’s observations, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the State Government had failed to spend Rs. 9,000 crore of the expected expenditure.

Stating that Mr. Yeddyurappa was the first Chief Minister to hold a meeting with officials in a resort, Mr. Siddaramiah said the Chief Minister’s claim that he had developed a good rapport with officials after the meeting had raised questions of his relationship with them prior to the meeting.

Transfers

Alleging that there was rampant corruption involved in the transfer of officials, the Leader of Opposition said that officials who were transferred after counselling had been transferred again leaving them disoriented.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he had toured districts before the budget session of the Legislative Assembly to interact with district officials and understand the problems being faced by the people.

He said the interests of the State and issues related to the welfare of the people should be given the highest priority.

Reacting to criticism over the functioning of the Opposition, he said the Government was “thick-skinned” and was insensitive to the observations and suggestions made by the Opposition.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the Leader of the Opposition was invested with the powers of a Cabinet Minister since 1975 and had the right to meet officials and enquire about the progress of development works.

Review meetings

Pointing out that this practice has been in vogue for many years, he described as undemocratic the statement by the Chief Minister that Leaders of the Opposition cannot hold review meetings.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said this issue would be raised in the forthcoming session of the legislature.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was on his first visit to the district after assuming charge as Leader of the Opposition, was felicitated by the District Congress Committee.

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